UPDATE: Murder in Minidoka County

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By
Michelle Costa

MINIDOKA COUNTY, ID (KMVT-TV) - A murder in Minidoka County leaves the community shocked and the police scrambling to figure out what happened.

Minidoka County Prosecutor, Lance Stevenson, said the incident happened inside a pickup truck just after midnight on Saturday at 550 West and 200 South.

Stevenson said 24-year-old Michael Jared Thompson shot and killed 21-year-old Michael Kenneth Blair in the head with a 9mm handgun. Both are from Burley.

He explained there were two couples, two female and two male inside the truck at the time. They were coming from a local bar in Paul.

According to Stevenson, Thompson and Blair were arguing at the time. Stevenson said there was a lot of alcohol involved. Blair was in the backseat of the car when the incident happened and Thompson was driving.

Blair’s body was found by police in the backseat of the car after officers responded to a possible DUI at 500 West and 245 South.

Sheriff Kevin Halverson said when the car was stopped; the female driving was covered in blood.

Thompson is being charged with second-degree murder and faces life in prison.

He was arraigned at 1 pm in a Minidoka County Courtroom via video. His bond is set at $500,000.

Thompson has decided not to be appointed a public defender, instead, he will look for his own counsel.